Events

Magnificent Women: A Panel Discussion on the First Female Engineers

20th February 2019

'Women: A Panel Discussion on the First Female Engineers' by The Bedford Centre for Women's & Gender History Wed FEBRUARY 20, 18:00–19:30, Shilling Auditorium, Royal Holloway, Uni of London, Egham, TW20 0EX

After being side-lined after undertaking crucial engineering and technical roles during the First World War, in 1919 a group of pioneering women engineers banded together to found the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). The society continues today to promote gender diversity and inclusivity in engineering.

To celebrate the centenary of WES and 100 years of women engineers, the Bedford Centre for Women’s and Gender History is delighted to present a panel of commentators looking back at the historic roles of female engineers, and to welcome Henrietta Heald, author of the forthcoming Magnificent Women and their Revolutionary Machines on the founders of the Women’s Engineering Society; Nina Baker, engineering historian on the first female electrical engineers; Jane Robinson, historian and author of Hearts and Minds: The Untold Story of the Great Pilgrimage and How Women Won the Vote and a forthcoming title on the opening of the traditional professions to women in 1919 with the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act; and Elizabeth Donnelly, the CEO of the Women’s Engineering Society.

David Howard, Founding Head of Royal Holloway’s Electronic Engineering Department, will introduce the pioneering work of Beatrice Shilling in the new Shilling Building named after her. There will be time for networking over refreshments and a chance to sign up to WES so do please join us for what promises to be an engaging discussion of how the past can help shape the future of women in engineering.